Manchester City manager Mark Hughes reacted to the growing pressure on him by
blaming his players' attitude for Saturday's shock FA Cup loss to Nottingham
Forest.

Hughes watched his City side follow its recent move out of the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-0 defeat to visiting Forest, which is in 21st place of the 24-team League Championship.

"I didn't expect the other team to show more desire but I am just being honest," Hughes said. "I am not telling anyone anything they didn't see themselves. I have known the frailties in the team from day one."

A famously competitive and driven player, Hughes' demand for discipline played a large part in his ability to extract good performances from a limited Blackburn team. But since taking over City in June, he has reportedly fallen out with Brazilian pair Elano and Jo over their attitude in training and the team's fortunes on the field have waned.

Hughes said he told club chairman Sheikh Mansoor and chief executive Garry Cook that the team needed bolstering to improve its character more than a month ago.

"You need leaders, people who drive the game and affect it in a positive way," Hughes said. "If we have more than one, two or three players below their best, then we struggle to win games. We have shown that throughout the season."

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The campaign is unfolding far differently to how City's owners would have hoped when they completed their takeover of the club four months ago. The hugely wealthy Abu Dhabi United Group said it wants City to become the biggest club in England, but Hughes is struggling to implement those plans.

City's only remaining chance of winning a trophy this season is now in the Uefa Cup and Saturday's poor performance has left Hughes downcast.

"I know exactly what is needed here," Hughes said. "The work we do on a day-to-day basis makes players better. They have to be brave enough to perform in matches. Today some were guilty of not doing that.

"We know where we are in development terms and we know where we need to go."

City paraded new signing Wayne Bridge before kickoff, but Hughes said he needs more players to make City the team he wants it to be.

"We know the areas of the squad we have to strengthen and we will try to do that," Hughes said. "It is not going to happen in this window, or even two or three. We need more time."